Pirarucu: Community Management and Intensive Production of the Largest Scaled Fish in the Amazon

The pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) is the largest freshwater scaled fish in the world — able to reach 3 meters and 200 kg in the wild, with farmed production between 8 and 15 kg in 12 to 18 months. It is the emblematic species of successful community management in the Amazon and the most valuable aquaculture product per kg in Brazilian fish farming — with fillet sold at R$ 50 to R$ 100/kg.

The community management of pirarucu in floodplain lakes is one of the most successful models of Amazonian bioeconomy — generating income for riverside communities without deforestation. Intensive farmed production is growing as an alternative to extractive management to supply the national and international premium market.

When pirarucu is managed sustainably or cultivated with technology and processed with quality, this segment can greatly contribute to job and income generation in Brazil.

Join our strategic actions to implement the best solutions in the Brazilian agricultural sector. Our activities, studies, and advanced research cover 20 chains and 255 segments of national agribusiness — from grain chains to sustainable extractivism, including horticulture, fruit cultivation, livestock, and much more.

The series Innovation For Brazil to Produce More was developed precisely to identify and implement the best solutions available in Brazil and worldwide, in the 255 segments of the agricultural sector — with accessible technical language, updated data, and a focus on practical results for producers, suppliers, governments, and marketers.

1.  Opportunities for Small Rural Producers

How to produce pirarucu in an intensive or community management system

Pirarucu is a mandatory air-breather — it needs to breathe air at the surface every 5 to 20 minutes. This characteristic simplifies management in high densities, as it is more tolerant of low oxygen than other fish.

✔    Intensive system in net tanks or excavated tanks — production of 10 to 20 kg/m²

✔    High-protein feed: 40 to 45% PB — carnivorous species with high demands

✔    Community management in floodplain lakes — IBAMA certified model

✔    Slaughter at 8 to 12 kg — fillet yield of 50 to 55%

✔    BASA and Amazon Fund for community pirarucu

The E-Book 01 — Strategic Manual for the Small Rural Producer presents, in detail, the best solutions for this segment and another 254 of Brazilian agribusiness — focusing on method, cost reduction, and progressive growth from Agro 1.0 to Agro 6.0.  Access now for BRL 99.00 →

2.  Opportunities for Micro and Small Local Suppliers

What equipment does the pirarucu chain demand

Pirarucu requires special tanks and high-standard fillet processing — with the fillet being the highest value product in Brazilian aquaculture.

Solutions by area of engineering applied to the segment

Our activities, studies, and advanced research cover six major areas of engineering — and the chain demands solutions in all of them:

Electrical Engineering and Computing — intensive production tanks;

Electronic Engineering and IoT — monitoring of stocks in floodplain lakes;

Control and Automation Engineering — automatic feeders for pirarucu;

Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering — filleting machines for large fish;

Renewable Energy Engineering — off-grid solar for remote production;

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence — blockchain traceability of managed pirarucu.

✔    Net tanks for intensive pirarucu production

✔    Filleting machines for large fish

✔    Blockchain traceability of community management

✔    Off-grid solar for riverside communities

✔    Consulting in sustainable management of pirarucu

The E-Book 02 — Strategic Guide for the Micro and Small Local Supplier maps, segment by segment, the business opportunities — focusing on IoT, energy, automation, and specialized technical services.  Access now for BRL 99.00 →

3.  Opportunities for Municipal Governments

How the municipality can support community pirarucu and create a bioeconomy hub

The community management of pirarucu is one of the greatest examples of bioeconomy in the Amazon — generating income, conserving the bioma, and producing the highest value fish in national aquaculture.

✔    Municipal program for community management of pirarucu in lakes

✔    Partnership with IBAMA and ICMBio for management certification

✔    Processor of pirarucu fillet with inspection

✔    Municipal IDM: pirarucu managed and processed locally

✔    Export of pirarucu as a traceable bioeconomy product

The E-Book 03 — Reference Guide for Municipal Governments presents the step-by-step for secretaries and municipal managers to implement effective public policies for the 255 segments of agribusiness.  Access now for BRL 99.00 →

4.  Opportunities for Small Agricultural Product Merchants

How pirarucu generates business for premium restaurants and export

The smoked pirarucu fillet is the aquaculture product with the highest margin in the Amazon — sold for R$ 80 to R$ 150/kg in premium stores and fine dining restaurants. The pirarucu skin has high-value applications in fashion and crafts.

For export, the pirarucu fillet with certified community management traceability has access to the European and American premium fish markets — which pay from US$ 25 to US$ 50/kg for products with a narrative of sustainable bioeconomy.

Products with high commercial potential

The main products derived from this segment for local retail and foodservice:

Fresh and smoked pirarucu fillet— product of maximum value; R$ 80 to R$ 150/kg;

Pirarucu skin for fashion— luxury item; R$ 300 to R$ 600/skin;

Dry (salted) pirarucu— Amazonian cultural product;

Pirarucu fillet for export— US$ 25 to US$ 50/kg;

Certified management pirarucu— traceable bioeconomy product;

Pirarucu leather for crafts— unique product from the Amazon.

Merchant profiles and their specific opportunities

✔    Premium restaurants: certified management pirarucu — prestigious product

✔    Exporters: fillet with bioeconomy traceability for Europe

✔    Fashion designers: pirarucu skin for luxury accessories

✔    Gourmet distributors: smoked and fresh fillet for capitals

✔    Riversides communities: own management and processing

✔    Digital platforms: pirarucu fillet with origin narrative

Growth strategies for the local merchant

The riverside community that processes pirarucu fillet with blockchain traceability and sells directly to capital restaurants eliminates 3 to 4 intermediaries and captures R$ 60 to R$ 100/kg vs. R$ 8 to R$ 12/kg sold to traders.

The BASA and the Amazon Fund finance management and processing. The SEBRAE subsidizes certification and export.

The E-Book 04 — Strategic Guide for the Small Merchant of Agricultural Products maps 30 merchant profiles and details growth opportunities across all 255 segments of agribusiness.  Access now for BRL 99.00 →

Innovation and Technology Network

By acquiring any e-book from the series, you become a member of our Innovation and Technology Network. Groups with 30 members can organize and fund in-person strategic planning events to identify and implement the best solutions available in Brazil and worldwide.

✔    Small Rural Producers

✔    Micro and Small Supplier Companies

✔    Municipal Governments

✔    Small Agricultural Product Merchants

⭐  Special offer: I will provide 100% discount on the value of my working hours for the 10 pioneer events organized by 11/30/26 and held in December 2026. Therefore, the 10 pioneer groups will only cover the general expenses.

Sincerely,

Ivo Alves

CEO · Master's in Electrical Engineering and Computing · Specialist in Innovation and Technology Project Management

Faculty: IFPB and UFRN  ·  38 years of experience in Engineering